Beyonce’s dad wanted to turn Astrodome into a waterpark

On Monday, we finally got a peek at all the rejected plans people submitted to redevelop the love-it-or-hate-it Reliant Astrodome. Several of the 22 submissions (The Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. said there were only 19 because three were apparently turned in late) were not really proper proposals at all, but one- or two-page e-mails or hand-written letters simply stating an idea for what to do with the vacant stadium.

Among them: An e-mail from Mathew Knowles, father of singer and Houston native Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

“We are still very much interested in the Dome,” Knowles said in an e-mail to sports corporation Executive Director Willie Loston, referencing an earlier in-person meeting. “There are still some milestones we must overcome, which I will mail to you and others tomorrow.”

What was his pitch?

Loston said Knowles was working with a group that builds and runs water amusement parks that wanted to turn the Astrodome into something like Splash Town Water Park on Interstate 45.

“We met with them and, no, they did not submit a formal proposal, but certainly indicated in e-mail correspondence that they were still interested in the idea and they thought they could come up with the money,” Loston said. The financial backing never came through, however, for Beyonce’s daddy or any of the rest of those who submitted ideas.

That’s why the sports corporation on Tuesday morning is recommending its own proposal to turn the half-century-old stadium into a massive convention and exhibit space.

Edgardo Colón, chairman of the sports corporation board, will present the $194 million project to Harris County Commissioners Court at its annual capital projects meeting.

Loston said he suspects the court will refer the plan to the county budget or infrastructure office “for further study.” The budget office has said it will look for ways to generate revenue so the county won’t have to ask taxpayers to foot the entire bill.

While the fate of the world’s first domed, indoor stadium lies in the hands of the five-member commissioners court, Loston said the sports corporation likely will be “intimately involved” in any public town hall meetings the county may host to gather feedback on the concept. (Harris County Judge Ed Emmett has said he envisions seeking citizen input).

“We are just awaiting direction,” Loston said.

The proposal could end up on the ballot this November in the form of a bond referendum.

A photo from 29-year-old Ryan Slattery’s proposal to strip the Astrodome down to its frame and install a park underneath.

The dome was dead when they build the Reliant next door. No business can be open when there is a ball game or rodeo going on. Why did they not go across 610 and build the Reliant and leave the dome along was just dumb.

If the proposal they are going with is the convention and exhibit space then tear the damn thing down. Houston has plenty of space for those type of events already.
“The budget office has said it will look for ways to generate revenue so the county won’t have to ask taxpayers to foot the entire bill.”……..
“The proposal could end up on the ballot this November in the form of a bond referendum.”

Translation, hotel and car rental taxes and make no mistake when the say ‘won’t have to ask taxpayers to foot the entire bill’ means well they will for at least 75% of it.
Will definitely be voting this down if it is indeed on the ballot in November.

The Chronicle, Harris County or HCSCC should publish and/or exhibit ALL of the proposals. Reporters and editors getting a peek is not publication. The Astrodome is part of our history and this process and the proposals are part of our history now. Harris County taxpayers should see what was rejected, since they will be asked to approve the proposal declared the winner by its creators. An exhibit at the county libraries would be informative, interesting and fun for the public.